I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get through the trilogy. I never felt burnt out or sore or had any issues. Of course I had to be sitting next to some tools who were more interested in their own jokes than watching the three films. But other than that I enjoyed myself.
I initially felt underwhelmed by TDKR at the midnight premiere. I felt like a lot was rushed and there was some glaring and questionable happenings that felt a bit out of place in a Nolan film. I have ended up enjoying TDKR more and more upon repeated viewings. Not that it was bad by any means. Expectations were unfairly high.
I thought Hardy as Bane was fantastic. Man, that first battle between Batman and Bane had me in shock. It was brutal. I loved seeing Bane bash in Batman's cowl. I loved Bane's presence during the whole meeting. It was really cool seeing someone just beat the stuffing out of Batman on film.
Bane
Theatricality and deception are powerful agents to the uninitiated... but we are initiated, aren't we Bruce? Members of the League of Shadows! And you betrayed us! Batman
You were excommunicated... by a gang of psychopaths! (Pummels Batman repeatedly)
Bane
I AM the League of Shadows, and I'm here to fulfill Ra's al Ghul's destiny! (Batman shuts the lights off)
Bane
Oh, you think darkness is your ally. You merely adopted the dark; I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but BLINDING! The shadows betray you, they belong to me! (Bane rips Batman from the shadows)
I was happy to see Batman broken by Bane in a movie. I also liked those dystopian court scene with Judge Scarecrow presiding.
I didn't care for the way
Blake was just simply able to tell that Bruce Wayne was Batman simply by meeting him one time.
Nothing too significant but I did enjoy spotting various character actors in the film. Like Mayor Carcetti as the CIA Op in the beginning. Quinn as the cop on the bridge shouting at Blake. Tom Lennon the Doctor from Memento (It must be the same universe!)/ Dangle from Reno 911. Doyle Bennett from Justified as one of the DWP workers.
I sort of felt Gordon was underused but Alfred did get his time to really shine. I thought Hathaway as Catwoman was great. I know there was the usual casting complaining about Hathaway but to me she was great and ranks up there with Julie Newmar for me.
I am eagerly awaiting to see what Nolan does next. I hope it is something original. Although, I also want Nolan to do at least a couple of Bond films down the line. Nolan has been very vocal about has Bond fandom and has met with Broccoli & Wilson. Clearly the Bane skyjacking was inspired from Licence To Kill's fishing for Sanchez. One of many moments Nolan has plundered from Bond as he stated.